A special thanks to Valerie for being as awesome class of 2011 model! She let us in on her life by sharing “25 things you might not know about me”

1.I love singing, its pretty much my life!

2. Photography is also my life!
3. I want to go to college for photography and to be a party planner.

4. I have 6 members in my family.

5. I have 4 nephew and nieces and one on the way.6.My best friends name is Alyssa.
7. My favorite kind of food is all types fruit.
10. I hate sea food.
11.I’m Hispanic.

12.About 95% of my family lives in Texas.
13.Just last year one of my best friends moved to Texas.
14. The summer of 2009 i had my Quiencenera, it is one of the amazing moments in my life.

15.I’m really excited to do model for you guys!
16.I’ve been to Canada, its very pretty there!
17. One of my favorite shows is ” The secret life of a american teenager”
18.I love summer!
19. My favorite store is probably Rue 21.
20. I was a cheerleader this year.
21. I tore my ankle ligament by tripping over weights in gym class.
22.I love hot sauce, its delicious!23.My friends are my world!
24. I’m probably the most fattest person inside, but i can never gain the weight aha.25. One of my favorite singers was Selena, but she passed away about 15 years ago.

You know when you find an amazing product and you want to just tell everyone? I am in love with personalized books from “Where in the World”.

As the mom of two children with somewhat uncommon names, they look in every trinket shop for a license plate, keychain or thimble with their name on it. They are also amazed that I can find so many Holiday Ornaments with my name on it (Joy) and they can’t! I found the perfect gift..

Where in the World Books makes personalized books and products that are truly special. The stories and artwork are about the child they are meant for. T

For example, there is a book called “Thats my Dog” (Also available in Spanish) where you personalize not only the BREED of your dog, but the name. The name isnt even woven only throughout the story, but its also in the illustration as well.

In the book “I want to Read my Name in Lights” your child will be an integrated part of the story.

I spoke with the Author and creator, Jan Krystkowiak, and she has great plans for the next release which is coming out April 1 and will be focused on the active military duty, talking about why they are gone from home, how much they love their son, daughter, nephew etc, and allows for not only personalization of the person but also the line of duty (i.e. navy, airforce etc.)

If it wasnt good enough, this amazing company donates a significant amount to relevant charities! This is my new favorite gift to give.. it will make amazing baby gifts and also my kids will have fun giving them to their friends! No more worries over duplicate gifts– this is one of a kind!

1. I’m a music nut. I listen to everything. I have playlists that go from AC/DC to Jordin Sparks to Ludovico Einaudi

2. I have 2 dogs- Casey and Piper. I love them both more than anything.

3. Jimi Hendrix is incredible. Modern day guitarists pale in comparison.

4. I can’t read sheet music. I figure everything out by ear, and if I can’t, someone has to show me how to play it.

5. Two summers ago, I went on an Outward Bound backpacking trip in the Colorado Rockies. It’s safe to say that was the best experience of my life.

6. For the most part, I’m not a picky eater, but there are two foods I absolutely cannot stand: bananas and mashed potatoes.

7. I could sit and play guitar for hours with no problem. I also play drums and piano.

8. I have a mind that goes several miles a minute. People call me random, but I prefer the term “creative.”

9. I hate shoes. I’m barefoot as much as possible. I can even walk through snow with no problem.

10. I’m a firm believer in personal expression. Anyone who feels the need to force their opinions upon someone will not get along with me.

11. I work at a restaurant called Ferrante’s. I’ve worked there for a little over a year and a half.

12. I have two siblings. My brother, Michael, is 18 and an avid hockey and lacrosse player. My little sister, Kathleen, is 12 and she’s been skiing and kicking a soccer ball around for almost her whole life.

13. My favorite food in the whole wide world is taco dip.

14. My goals for this summer: 1. Learn how to wakeboard, 2. Actually USE my 6 Flags season pass, and 3. Get tan.

15. I love hockey, although I don’t actually play it. Unfortunately, my parents decided that one hockey player in the family was enough.

16. On another hockey note, I despise Sidney Crosby.

17. My biggest pet peeve is when people mix up “your” and “you’re,” and also “their”, “there”, and “they’re.”

18. I love to color. My friend got me a little kids’ coloring book for Christmas. I carry it around with me in my backpack :]

19. This summer, I’m going to Costa Rica through the ecoteach program with my favorite teacher and a few friends. So excited!!

20. I’m determined to teach myself how to play the violin.

21. I wanted to play the bagpipes when I was younger. Thank you, Mom, for not giving in.

22. The phrases I say the most are “wait, time out” and “it’s all good.”

23. One time, I had a goldfish. I won it at Lionsfest. It died the first night I got it. RIP Shamrock.

24. When I was four years old I had three infatuations: 1. 101 Dalmations (I actually HAD 101), 2. Long Johns (the doughnuts, not the underwear), and 3. My husband, Danny.

25. School has never really been my favorite thing, but I’m definitely a science geek.

4. I know it’s weird but I hate when things touch the front of my neck. I can’t wear any turtlenecks, tight necklaces, most sweatshirts, and I cut all of my t-shirts that aren’t v-necks.

5. For my whole life I’ve wanted to become a surgeon.

6. I love to dance and have been dancing for 15 years.

7. I make notecards and overstudy for almost every quiz and test.

8. I’m not a big fan of shopping unless it is for dresses or swim suits.

9. My biggest fear of the ocean is the undertow.

10. Technology hates me, or maybe I’m just extremely slow when it comes to computers and stuff. I don’t know how to use itunes, how to burn a cd, and it took me 10 minutes to figure out how to turn off my ipod.

11. I love doing hair and end up being hair dresser for my friends for several occasion

12. My favorite food is chocolate. Any kind will do.

13. I can fall asleep faster in the car than I can in my own bed

14. I watch every rerun of Friends that’s on tv even though I’ve seen every episode at least 5 times.

15. I’m not obsessed with “going green” but I really hate wasting paper.

16. I love dressing up for holidays, even the ones I don’t celebrate. I deck out in all green on St. Patrick’s day even though I am 0% Irish, and I bring out the christmas gear on the 25th even though I’m jewish.

17. I’m really good at rhyming. I don’t know why, it just comes to me.

18. I was bald until I was two.

19. I took taekwondo for 2 weeks, at which time my mom told me I had to choose between that and dance.

20. When I was in 3rd grade my sister and I got a hamster and named it Doodledandy Karina Phillips (doodles for short).

21. I love cards and board games.

22. I get really competitive when playing any kind of racket sport.

23. I had buck teeth and a haircut as short as my ears in 1st grade. This started my 6 year awkward stage.

24. I always have to get in and get out of my bed on the same side.

25. I love smiling and when someone tells me not to smile I find it very difficult to keep a straight face. Consequently, you will find that, against the rules, I am smiling on both my license and my passport.